Built Environment – comfort and safety

Challenge

Architectural innovation has led to an exciting urban environment optimised for the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. Narrower access ways are possible, which also allows more efficient use of space as architects seek to go higher. A risk of these designs is that the wind can be channelled in a way that is potentially dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists. Our client in this project wanted to ensure that this risk was minimised

We generated a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of the development and surrounding environment. CFD is a numerical modelling method that allows us to accurately predict wind flow patterns between buildings, taking as input the local wind rose of prevailing winds, the development geometry, the surrounding geometry to provide an accurate atmospheric boundary layer at the inlet to the development, and variations in temperature and weather that occur during the year.

Our work

Outcome

With our model outputs we generated a risk plot showing the likelihood of dangerous conditions occurring at every location in the development during the year. Some small changes to the design were recommended to mitigate this risk, and the end result was judged acceptable by the planning authorities.

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